We left Flagstaff, Arizona  on the morning of Thursday June 21st and started east driving across Arizona on Interstate 40. In northeastern Arizona not far off the interstate was the Petrified Forest National Park.  We were going to be doing a lot of driving the next couple days and this provided something to see along the way.

The Petrified Forest is known for its fossils mainly fallen trees that lived 225 million years ago. The park was established in 1962 and attracts over 600,000 visitors a year. We spent a good four hours at the park doing the driving tour and getting out at each stop. Old Route 66 passed right by the park back in the day.

The seem to have a problem with people wanting to steal the petrified wood. Outside the park you can buy the petrified wood at souvenir stores legally but people seem to want to pocket the smaller pieces that are lying around in the park. There are warnings against doing this all over the park and in the film they show at the visitor center.